[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Public Library on A Dream in Red Mansions (Updated Jun)

#AprilGoodDestinations2025 Breaking into the old red-brick Soviet-style building in Xisi, this "book utopia" subverted my understanding of libraries! Tens of thousands of out-of-print books are available for free reading. You can enjoy the dome-shaped book wall for free. You can also exchange Trip Coins for ancient book restoration experience. 📚Soul Crit Bookshelf • The original 1950s edition of Selected Works of Mao Zedong can be found in the Red Documents Area on the third floor • At the end of the spiral staircase is a rare opera book, and Mei Lanfang's hand-painted costume illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful • Highly recommend the "Glass Light Seat" by the window, where light spots dance tango on the pages while reading "Old Things in the South of Beijing" 🕰️A Guide to Architectural Psychedelics ✔️Shoot industrial style photos under the giant gear chandelier ✔️The "Silent Study" converted from an air-raid shelter on the first floor of the basement, where you can read jazz music on vinyl in your headphones ✔️Don’t miss the typesetting press at the door and print your own bookplates 📍Red House Public Library: No. 26, Xisi South Street, Xicheng District

The predecessor of Honglou Library was the famous Honglou Cinema in Beijing, which was built in the 1930s and has a history of more than 70 years. It was later transformed into the first public library in Beijing. The facade is small, but the interior space is large, with a total of three floors. The reading space is large, and there are study rooms and cafes. Free Wi-Fi is available. You can read books, work, and daze here. There are many types and quantities of books, all of which are donated by institutions and individuals.

This is probably the most suitable route for a city walk in Beijing🚶. The history and modern vibe of Beijing are intertwined on this route Besides the charming architecture⛩ There are also interesting little shops The taste of Beijing is fully embodied here · 📍 Route Guide: Xishiku Church - Red Building Bookstore - Zhengyang Bookstore - Baita Temple Qianshou Hutong loop coffee - Baita Temple East Jiaodao Hutong red wall - yao coffee - Light of Baita Temple - Xidan · 1⃣ Xishiku Church - A very typical Gothic building⛪️, one of the oldest and largest churches in Beijing, with beautiful stained glass inside, and no admission fee 2⃣ Red Building Bookstore and Zhengyang Bookstore are opposite each other, the bookstore has many older books📚, very interesting, you can study or work here; Zhengyang Bookstore can be said to be the bookstore with the strongest Beijing flavor, a paradise for vintage lovers, and there are also cute cats🐈 in the store 3⃣ There are many interesting hutongs around Baita Temple, with interesting names, friends with enough time can slowly stroll here to feel the taste of old Beijing, and in Baita Temple East Jiaodao Hutong you can even find the same photo spot used by Yi Yangqianxi and Guan Xiaotong📸. 4⃣ There are also many coffee shops near Baita Temple☕️, such as loop coffee, Light of Baita Temple, and yao coffee, the latter two have terraces where you can enjoy the view of Baita Temple~ · 📯 Little tips: - Dress appropriately when visiting the church, and no smoking🚫 oh~ - The tea tables in the courtyard of Zhengyang Bookstore require consumption to be used🤫 -🚇 For transportation, take the subway line 4 to Xisi Station and then walk there - After strolling, you can go to Xidan to rest and have a meal😋

I passed by the Honglou Public Book Pavilion on my way home from Beihai, and decided to take a look. As a result, my child picked up a book called 'Deadly Influenza' and has been reading it for half an hour... and occasionally asks me about some medical terms. The atmosphere here is really good, and everyone is welcome to try it! Address: 50 meters southeast of the intersection of Zhuan Ta Hutong and Xi Si Da Jie Business hours: Tuesday to Sunday 8:00-19:00

A good place to study and read in Beijing [Red Tower Public Library] I checked in at the Red Tower Public Library that I had longed for. This building, built in 1955, was originally a cinema. The current reading area also retains the original layout, with tables, chairs and high and low steps located in the middle, and three floors of books around it. "Collect, read and share" is the library's business philosophy. "Public collection" means that the collection of books comes from the general public, and has attracted more than 80,000 books from all walks of life. It is indeed a feast for the eyes! "Shared reading" means reading without any threshold and you can enter without making an appointment. "Sharing" refers to book collectors and authors sharing their life experiences and thoughts through readers' reading, and there are usually many cultural activities. The lobby is the main reading area, with bookshelves on both sides of the first and second floors, and the third floor is currently not open. There is a sofa rest area under the stairs. It was noon when we went there and many people were taking a nap. There is also a consumption area at the entrance where you can buy coffee. Let’s read together to broaden our lives~ [Transportation] Take Line 4, Xisi Station, Exit D, and walk for less than 10 minutes. Not too far, but not conspicuous either. [Layout] The first floor is a cafe, and the second and third floors are libraries. The seats in the coffee shop on the first floor are sofa chairs + low tables, which are not suitable for writing, but are comfortable for reading and chatting. Seats require payment. The air conditioning on the first floor is very comfortable in summer. The second floor is surrounded by bookshelves, with 6 large study tables in the middle. This is the most suitable place for self-study. The third floor only has a circle of lofts surrounding it. On one side is a small round table + chairs, and on the other side is a row of long tables + small stools. The small stools are a bit hard to sit on. There are big steps between the second and third floors, with cushions on them, where you can sit and read a book. This is a popular photo-taking spot for internet celebrities. Since the roof is made of glass, the seats on the second and third floors are exposed to direct sunlight, so girls should take good sun protection. 【Feeling】 The learning atmosphere is very strong. Although some people are taking photos, most people are studying and the environment is still very quiet. On the whole, this place is more suitable for taking photos and punching in. Location: No. 26, Xisi South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 from Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday Business hours: 10:00-18:40 during the week Location: Turn right at Exit D of Xisi Subway Station and you can see it Environmental experience: There are many tables and chairs inside, both paid and free, the atmosphere is very good and quiet, and there are staff to manage when someone is talking loudly. There are toilets and wireless networks inside, which is great for self-study, office work and reading. About books: This is not a bookstore, but a collection of books. There are many books, and you can also see some older books, which are very interesting. This time I chose a history book and read it for more than 6 hours until it closed; if you want to read some bestsellers, you need to go to the bookstore. Clothing: Keep warm. It’s a bit cold except at noon, so bring your own coat. By the way, I met a kitten inside today, and I hope you can meet one next time. There is a [Zhengyang Bookstore] opposite. Worth a look

Honglou Public Library This building, built in 1955, was originally a cinema. The current reading area also retains the original layout, with tables, chairs, and steps in the middle, and three layers of books around. "Public collection, shared reading, sharing" is the operating philosophy of the library. "Public collection" refers to the sources of books from the public, and has attracted more than 80,000 books from all walks of life. It's really a feast for the eyes! "Shared reading" refers to barrier-free reading, you can enter without an appointment. "Sharing" refers to book collectors and authors sharing their life experiences and thoughts through readers' reading, and there are many cultural activities usually. The lobby is the main reading area, and there are bookshelves on both sides of the first and second floors. The third floor is not currently open. There is also a sofa rest area under the stairs. When I went there, it was noon, and many people were taking a nap. In addition, there is a consumption area at the entrance where you can buy coffee. Let's read together and increase the width of life~ Location: No. 26, Xisi South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-18:00, closed on Monday